Shirley - Netflix - 1 hour and 58 minutes
Shirley Chisholm joined the new class of the 91st Congress of the United States in 1968. She stands out because she is the 1st African American woman to achieve this goal. Representing New York's 12th district, Shirley wanted to encourage the marginalized to vote. Shirley enters the house and disappointedly gets added to the House Committee of Agriculture. She understands that a New Yorker won't know how to vote on corn and farmland. She stomps to the Speaker of the House, John W. McCormack, and demands he move her to Veterans Affairs. John reminds Shirley that every member of Congress spends their first year in Agriculture, and he won't change the rules for her. However, Shirley got the necessary support to move.
After a few years in Congress, Mac Holder and Arthur Hardwick Jr. visit Shirley and her husband, Conrad, with startling information. Shirley promised to put her name on the primary ballot if her Floridian staffers raised $5,000. Mac informs Shirley that they raised nearly $10,000. Shirley takes a deep breath and asks what it would take to run for president. Arthur notifies her that she needs $300,000. Shirley scoffs and gives the men their assignments. Arthur will handle finances, Conrad will cover security, and Mac will advise her. Shirley knows they are a formidable force. However, this is the first year people 18 to 20 can vote. So, Shirley hires her former intern, Robert Gottlieb, as her national student coordinator. Later, Shirley employs a young and unregistered Barbara Lee. Shirley's bold political moves will change California's voting landscape, media coverage, and the Democratic National Committee.
Shirley wanted the world to know she was more than an African American and more than a woman. She was proud of both things but never allowed it to become her only identity. She wanted to be a voice of people ignored by politicians. This stand included veterans, the impoverished, and immigrants. Shirley stood for social change while hiring the best, despite race, gender, or ethnicity, to stand beside her. She refused to hear the word 'can't' and quickly learned political inner workings and backdoor dealings. Shirley did care about personal optics but ignored the political ones. She understood that making history was significant but not as much as change. By standing up for herself, Shirley proudly leveled the playing field for all. This film covers a few years of her life but beautifully embraces the impact she made.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Congratulations, Congresswoman Chisholm - Conrad
Yes. Tell them I said yes - Shirley
Shirley, if you run, you can't win - Mac
I got to call my parents - Robert
One thing, for sure, you don't have enough money - Arthur
Nothing wrong with politics when you're a politician - Walter
He made you think you're special - Miriam
You're an embarrassment - Stanley
Get ready for a little chaos - Diane
Voting is bourgeois politics - Barbara
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